American Economics 101

April 1, 2009|IFONIA JEAN ijean@tribune.com

Some people have great salaries, and some people don't. According to www.payscale.com, the annual salary of a medical doctor is between $150,000 and $255,000, and the salary of a lawyer is $56,853 to $113,406. Teacher salaries are comparatively much less, with an annual average of about $42,499. Noting that teachers are measurably accountable for the success of many professionals, including those who teach as well, one may argue that teachers are very much underpaid. It's no wonder many of them rallied outside of Plantation High School on March 24, demanding pay increases during the Broward School Board's meeting on the matter.

Despite the economic crisis that our nation is facing, Broward County teachers were not willing to compromise their guaranteed raises for the 2009-10 school year. Approximately 1,000 educators protested in the school's parking lot, hoping to sway the decision of Broward School Board members, who were advised by Superintendent James Notter to reject the raises. Indeed, they did just that. The board members voted unanimously, with the exception of Phyllis Hope, in favor of Notter's recommendation.

Sandy Lobel-Witlen, a teacher at Coral Springs Elementary School, was among the many teachers who were outraged by the board's decision. She said that she was not being rightly compensated for her hard work. "When you divide the number of hours I spend preparing for each day's lessons, meetings, planning, etc., my salary does not commensurate with [what I deserve]," she said. Lobel-Witlen also found that it was unreasonable for Notter to reap benefits, like having a car expense for a Corvette, while many teachers were struggling to make ends meet with their pay. She said, "Is it fair that Mr. Notter's wife's health insurance is paid and we can't earn 'step raises'?"

Though there are those who believe that teachers are being selfish, many people agree that teachers deserve a just salary. In an online poll, readers were asked to cast a vote on whether or not teachers should receive a raise in the midst of layoffs. Less than half replied that teachers deserved one during these uncertain financial times.

Nonetheless, Lobel-Witlen said that the board members could have negotiated the options presented by the Broward Teachers Union, which included $100 million in suggested cuts. "I feel the board did not do its homework, they did not understand what the vote was to be and how it would work and that indeed there is money, thus Phyllis Hope's 'no' vote," she said.

With corporate giants walking away with hefty bonuses after playing a major role in weakening the financial stability of taxpayers, teachers should feel frustrated. Besides, the debate about their salaries has been all talk and little action for years. It's time for the nation to get its priorities in order. In the meantime, teachers may have to wait longer for a shift in their salaries as they continue to work hard at helping create a brighter tomorrow for their students.